U.S. Air Force, Indian Air Force Join Forces during RED FLAG-Alaska

16 May 2016

From Tech. Sgt. Steven R. Doty, 354th Fighter Wing

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, enabling joint and international units to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability in a realistic threat environment.

With more than 75 aircraft and 1,400 participants, RF-A 16-1 featured a strategic – and rare – partnership with the Indian Air Force and two of their specific airframes; the Sukhoi SU-30MK, a twinjet multi-role air superiority fighter, and the SEPECAT Jaguar, an Anglo-French jet-attack aircraft.

U.S. Air Force Colonel Brian Toth, 354th Operations Group commander, attributes participation of foreign military forces to the overall success of RF-A exercises.

“Through the initial planning meetings for each RED FLAG iteration, we discuss the end goals of each exercise and it is up to those countries’ representatives to acknowledge which missions would most benefit their particular needs at that time,” said Toth. “However, the realistic training environment we aim to provide each iteration is only made possible with the participation of our partners and the hard work they put in throughout the exercise.”